Jordan, in partnership with the European Union, Monday chaired the third ministerial meeting of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) on energy, which was held via virtual technology in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon.
The meeting, chaired by Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Hala Zawati on behalf of the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries, discussed areas of joint cooperation between the UfM countries in the fields of natural gas, electricity, renewable energy and energy rationalization.
The one-day meeting issued the 2021 Ministerial Declaration, which includes a work program and mechanisms for joint cooperation during the upcoming period in the fields of renewable energy, energy rationalization, electricity and natural gas, as well as increasing cooperation between member states, especially the countries of the northern and southern Mediterranean basin.
In opening remarks, Zawati voiced hope that the Ministerial Declaration would be a major catalyst in strengthening cooperation between member states, stressing the importance of the declaration in the expansion of renewable energy and energy efficiency and strengthening cooperation in the exchange of electricity and the stable supply of natural gas throughout the northern and southern Mediterranean region.
“We hope that this announcement will help promote equitable and sustainable growth that will extend directly to the recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic, which imposed huge challenges on all sectors, including energy,” she stated.
The minister stressed the importance of the announcement in finding new ways for the required solutions to address environmental issues and climate change, calling on participants to speed up the legislative procedures and necessary measures to facilitate electrical interconnection between the countries of the Union.
“This move should facilitate the transition to sustainable energy in cooperation between the public and private sectors, investment and financing agencies, and harness the opportunities offered by research, development, innovation and digitization to move forward in improving safe, sustainable and energy efficiency energy production,” Zawati added.
She also voiced hope that the ministerial meeting and its discussions will contribute to achieving the desired goals of the Union for cooperation in the field of electricity, gas, renewable energy and energy efficiency, and for the benefit of all of the union nations, taking into account a fair balance of interests among members in the southern and northern regions of the Mediterranean.
Zawati pointed out that Jordan was, and still is, within its current role in the joint presidency, one of the countries that contribute and support all areas of cooperation between the countries of the UfM, and will continue its efforts to support the initiatives and programs drawn up by the Secretariat and adopted by the Union countries to boost opportunities for regional cooperation in energy and the gradual integration of energy markets.
“The Union is aware of the pressing energy challenges facing the Mediterranean region today, and the need to intensify regional cooperation in order to address them. The countries of the Union for the Mediterranean today reaffirmed their common goal and commitment to move forward in a just and sustainable transition towards low-emission, inclusive, efficient and resilient economies and societies,” UfM Secretary-General Nasser Kamel said.
Portugal’s Minister of Environment and Climate Action Joao Pedro Matos Fernandes stressed the importance of the meeting to tackle common challenges in the field of renewable energy and rationalization of energy consumption, joining forces to reduce carbon emissions and strengthening the commitment to accelerate the necessary changes towards more sustainable and efficient economies and societies.
Source: Jordan News Agency
